IGP Dismisses Saraki’s Accusation, Says It’s An Attempt To Obstruct Justice

The Nigeria Police Force has reacted to claims by Senate President Bukola Saraki on an alleged plot by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris to frame him.

Saraki, had during plenary on Wednesday, alleged a plan by the police chief to alter a statement given by cultism suspects in order to implicate him.

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In the revelation that appears similar to what Senator Dino Melaye is alleging, Saraki accused IGP Idris of directing the Kwara State Police Commissioner to transfer the cultism suspects, who were arrested in the state, to Abuja in order to have their submission to the police altered.

Saraki, in his narration to Senators at Wednesday’s plenary, said: “Last night, my state governor revealed to me an information at his disposal that a group of suspects who have been arrested in our state for cultism, whose investigation has been completed and were about to be under prosecution under the state law on the advice of DPP and the ministry of justice, all of a sudden being ordered to be transferred to Abuja this morning.

“The information reaching him from the commissioner of police (is) that they have been directed by IGP to bring them to Abuja. With the information that he has, they would find how to alter their statement already made in Ilorin and try and implicate the state government and particularly myself. I felt that as we speak now, these suspects are already here in Abuja.”

But reacting hours later, the police in a statemen signed by the Force Spokesperson Jimoh Moshood described Saraki’s allegation as unfounding, adding that it is an attempt to obstruct justice and the police investigation.

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Moshood said the Force will not allow anyone, no matter how highly placed they are to pervert justice, noting that the Senate President’s statement “can dissuade and discourage living victims/deceased families of those who must have been killed by this vicious hired assassin gang from coming forward to give evidence against them”.

“The Nigeria Police Force is shocked at the unbelievable claims, unverifiable allegations and unfounded accusations being peddled against the IGP by the Senate President, accusing the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris, NPM, mni of plot and strategies against him to settle scores,” the statement read in part.

“The Force, therefore, wishes to categorically state that, there is no iota of truth in the allegation and false assertion by the Senate President of a plot against him by the IGP to implicate the Kwara State Government and the Senate President in any criminal matter.

“Until an investigation is concluded, any person (s) or group(s) who tries to interfere in the investigation process by action or utterances is committing an offence.

“There is no vested interest by the Inspector General of Police in the ongoing investigation into the several murders committed by this killer gang, other than ensuring that justice prevails in the matter. Nobody no matter how highly placed would be allowed to interfere or obstruct Police investigation to pervert the course of justice.

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“It is also imperative to let the public know that last year, suspects arrested over the mayhem and killings of innocent people in Ile-Ife, Osun State and those arrested in Southern Kaduna crisis in Kaduna State and suspects arrested in connection with Zaki-biam killings in Benue State were all transferred to the Force Headquarters, Abuja for further investigation before they were arraigned in court of competent jurisdiction.

“Therefore, transferring this hired assassin gang masquerading as cultists in Kwara State to Force Headquarters, Abuja for further investigation is in accordance with Police investigation procedures,” the statement added.

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